TPWD Game Warden Field Notes

The following are excerpts from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.

Jackpot of Violations — Recently, a Travis County Game Warden was patrolling the edge of Lake Travis checking for fishing violations. He observed a vehicle pull up next to him in the parking lot and saw feathers hanging from the rearview mirror. He exited his truck, and after identifying himself, asked the suspects what kind of feathers they were. The man and woman responded that they did not know. The warden shined his flashlight on the feathers and saw a marijuana roach clip attached to the feathers. As the warden got the suspects out of the vehicle, he saw there was a syringe cap in the woman's seat. After a search of their persons and finding more drug paraphernalia, some marijuana and an illegal weapon, the warden did a search of the vehicle assisted by the Lago Vista Police, and more drugs were found. The back seat of the vehicle was full of stolen merchandise from a burglary the night before. In addition, the woman was in possession of stolen credit cards. The woman gave false identification, and it was later discovered she was wanted out of state for robbery, theft and assault.

Illegal Dog-and-Hog Hunting — A Camp County Game Warden caught four men hunting hogs during closed season with dogs on the White Oak Creek Wildlife Management Area. They entered the WMA on an All-Terrain Vehicle from private land by taking the management area fence down. Two hogs were caught. Cases are pending.

Cock Fights Equal Felony Charges — Game Wardens in Zapata County arrested two local men on cruelty to animal charges. These individuals were running a "cock fight" when the wardens interrupted their party. The wardens escorted the two men to jail and felony charges are pending.